Multi channel in-plane and out-of-plane couplers for optical printed circuit boards and optical backplanes

We present multi channel optical interconnects, based on integrated glass fibers, with passively aligned in-plane and 90deg out-of-plane couplers for printed circuit boards. The out-of-plane coupler features micro optics, mechanical alignment structures, and a snap-fit system to assemble the complex coupler out of several simple, self aligning parts. Further we present an optical printed circuit board for on-board transmitter and receiver electronics for four channels using 4times10 Gbit/s transmitter and receiver chips.